Suction cleaner



1944. w, PARDEE I 2,366,125

SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 40m WPHEDEE WWW ATTORNEY.

' Dec. 26, 1944. w P R EE 2,366,125

SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. .1 5 7[mm/146M055 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 26, 1944 7 2,366,125 soc'rmn CLEANER Lloyd W. Pardee,Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to The Scott & Fetzer Company, Cleveland, Ohio,a corporation of Ohio Application May 19, 1941, Serial No. 394,117

8 Claims.

This invention relates to suction cleaners of the on-the-floor type, andmore particularly, to a new and improved converter coupling which may bereadily applied to the cleaner toadapt the same for off -the-floorcleaning in connection with an extension hose and utility tools.

The type'of suction cleaner in most general use today is that which isknown as the on-the-t floor type, which is used primarily for cleaningfloor coverings and the like. To adapt this type of cleaner forofr-the-fioor cleaning, it is necessary to provide a converter couplingwhich serves to attach an extension hose and utility tools to thecleaner so that the latter may be employed for cleaning objects such asupholstery, furniture and the like, normally disposed above the floor.The use of converter couplings which have been in general use heretoforewas usually a complicatedand inconvenient procedure, requiring thepartial dismantling of the machine and the substitution of partsthereof. This procedure entailing the use of separate parts discouragedthe use of the usual on-the-floor type of cleaner for oif-the-floor'work. In those machines embody,

ing a belt driven brush, it was essential that the belt be removed fromthe fan shaft of the machine, or that the working mouth of the nozzle'beraised on of the floor covering, for the failure to do so wouldeventually result in damage to the floor covering. In the event that thenozzle was raised above the floor covering and the, brush driven duringoif-the-floor cleaning, the efficiency of the machine for' use inconnection with utility tools was considerably reduced.

It is among the'objects of the presentinvention to provide a new andimproved converter coupling which may be used with the usual onthe-floortype of suction cleaner which is simple in construction and easy toapply, and which avoidsthe drawbacks and disadvantages of present typesof converter couplings.

It is another object of the invention to provide, in a suction cleanerof the on-the-floor type having'aa brush driven by a belt extending fromthe fan shaft, a converter coupling including mechanism fordisconnecting the belt from the fan shaft when it is desired to use themachine for oif-the-floor cleaning. v

, Another object of the invention is. to provide a new and. improvedconverter coupling for use 1 with a suction cleaner having a belt drivenbrush imzluding pivotal mechanism adapted to discon-v necttl'ie beltf-rom the fan shaft of th cleaner, and to lock the coupling in operativeposition within the machine. I

a0 fled type of converter coupling mbodying the The foregoing objectsand certain advanta- Semis features of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed descrip tion taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference charactersdenote corresponding parts, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a suction cleaner embodying aconverter coupling constructed in accordance with the present inven-vtion; i

Figure 2 is a side. elevational view of a converter coupling embodyingthe present invention; Figures 3 and 4 are end elevational views of thecoupling shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is alongitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure3;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the convertercoupling positioned within the nozzle of the cleaner, with the beltshifting element pivoted into of the fan shaft; 1

Figure 8 is a sectional detail taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary front view of the nozzle showing the openingthrough which the coupling is adapted to extend;

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of 'a modipresent invention: a

Figures 11 and 12 are 'nd elevational views of the coupling shown inFigure 9;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the couplingproperly positioned within the nozzle of the suction cleaner with thebelt shifting element thereof in position to free the belt from the fanshaft;

Figure 14 is a sectional detail taken on the line ll-ll ofFigure 13; T

Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coupling positionedrelative to the fan shaft of the cleaner; I a

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken on the line lO-ltofFigure 15,and- Q.1

Figure 17 is .a. fragmentary bottom view of v the end of the convertercoupling.

- called horizontal type, which in it general structural featurescomprises a wheeled casing indicated broadly by'the. numeral l0. adaptedto be maneuvered over the floor by means of a handle \f u (not shown)suitably attachedto a'bail II. The

position to lift the belt free casing It includes a floor engagingnozzle 2 communicating with a fan case l3 through a flanged inlet I4. Afan I5 is suitably mounted within the fan case I3 on' an extension l6 ofthe armature shaft of the motor (not shown), the

housing of which is indicated bythe numeral H.

A rotary brush l8 is journalled in the floor engaging mouth of thenozzle l2. The shaft of the cleaner motor is extended outwardly throughthe inlet M of the fan case and is provided at its outer end with apulley l9 adapted to receive a belt 20 for driving the brush l8. Alignedwith the flanged inlet openingl4 and extending through the front wall ofthe nozzle I2 is an opening 24, which is formed with a substantiallyrectangular notch 22 at one side thereof (see Figure 9.). Normally, theopening 2| is closed with any suitable type of removable cover when themachine is being used for on-the-floor cleaning. The aforesaid structuremay follow in general the practice in the art, modifications being hadto embody the present invention which has referin or supported inalignment with the inlet opening M of the fan case. The housing 26 isformed with a portion 21 of reduced inside diameter, the

exterior wall of which is tapered and provided with spaced lugs 28 forreceiving a coupling ring to attaching an extension hose to the outerextremity of the housing 26. On the exterior sur- -face of the housing26, there is formed an irregularly shaped key 29 which cooperates withthe keyway 22 formed in the opening2| to guide the housing in apredetermined rotated path as the coupling is inserted through theopening 2|.

As best illustrated in Figure 17, the inner end of the housing 26 isprovided with a pair of parallel slots 30 and 3 I forming therebetween atongue 32, the outer end of which is suitably rounded, as

I at 33.

The portion 21 of the housing 26 is cut away to provide a substantiallyflatsurface 35, having an opening 36 extending longitudinallytherethrough and communicating with the interior of the housing 26. Aslot 31 in the wall of the housing extends from the surface 35 towardthe forward end'of the coupling. A cap member 38 is adapted to besecured to the surface 35 having formed therein spaced bearing recesses39 and 40 traversing the surface 35, and a passage 34 extendingtherebetween which aligns with the opening 36 when the cap is secured inplace upon the housing. Pivotally mounted within the housing 36 is anelongated member 4| which maybe manipulated to free the belt from the.pulley of the [machine when the coupling is operatively positioned inthe machine. The forward end of the belt shifter 4| is cut away to formspaced lips 42 which engage the spaced portions of the belt 20 and arecess 43 which receives the end of the pulley". The upper surface 44 ofthe member 4| is downwardlylinclined extending from'the closed end ofthe recess 43 to the rear wall 45 of the member. A downwardly extendingportion terminating in trunnions 46 is formed on the rear end of themember 4|. The trunnions 46 are received within the bearing recess 39 inthe cap member 38. An opening 41 in alignment with the slot 31 extendsthrough the intermediate portion of the member 4|. A spring 48 seatedwithin a recess 49 and bearing-against the wall 45 normally urges theforward end of the belt shifter downwardly into engagement with theinner surface of the housing 26. i

For actuating the belt shifter, there is provided a cam lever 48comprising a cylindrical body portion 49 rotatably mounted within thebearing recess 40 and having a cam lug 50 operating in the passage 34and engageable with the lower surface of the member 4| to pivot the sameupon rotation of the body portion 49. A

' hook 5| formed integrally with the body portion 49'' and extending atsubstantially right angles to the lug 50 operates within the alignedslots 41 and 31, and moves behind the wall of the nozzle |2 (see Figure7) ,to maintain the coupling member properly seated within the machine.A hand lever 52 is secured to the outer end of the rotatable member 49.

In applying the converter coupling to the suction cleaner, the forwardend of the housing is inserted through the opening 2| in the face of thenozzle and the end of the irregular key 29 is aligned with andintroduced into the keyway 22. The belt 29 which normally assumes atwisted position to effect a driving connectionbetween the pulley l9 andthe brush I8 has one portion thereof extending forwardly of the, pulley,and that portion thereof which is in alignment with the lower edge ofthe openingil is twisted at about an angle of about 45. The forward endof the key 29'is so positioned'on the wall of the housing that uponinsertion into the keyway22, the end of the slot 30 is aligned with andis adapted to receive the edge portion ofthe belt. Upon furtherinsertion of the key into the slot, the converter coupling is rotatedand the tongue 32 is caused to separate the portions of the belt belowthe pulley aligning the other slot 3| with the edge portion of the otherside of the belt. Seating the forward end of the housing 26 in the inletopenin l4 of the fan case brings the belt shifter 4| into position belowthe pulley. The lever 52 is then moved to rotate the cam lug 56 intoposition to move the end of the belt shifter upwardly into engagementwith the belt about the pulley and free the same therefrom.Simultaneously with the movement of the belt shifting member 4| the hook5| formed on the cam lever is caused to move through the slots 41 and 31and engage behind the wall of the nozzl l2, thereby locking the couplingmember in position within the nozzle. I

With reference to Figures '10 to 16, inclusive there is disclosed amodified form of a converter coupling constructed in accordance withthis invention, broadly indicated by the numeral 55. The convertercoupling 55 comprises a cylindrical housing member 56 which is adaptedto extend through the opening 2| of the suctioncleaner nozzle l2, andhave its inner end thereof aligned with or seated 'within the inletopening it of the The outer end of .the housing 58 is formed withanenlargement or flange 58,

(see Figure 2).

The flanged end of the housing 56 is adapted to receive the end 63 of atubular member 62, the outer surface of which end is contouredcomplemental to the inner surface 59 of the flange 58.

The end of the member 62 is provided with out-.

wardly extending trunnions 64 which seat within the bearing recesses 60.A clamping ring 55 which is complemental to the flanged end 58 of thehousing 56 completes the joint between the,

housing 56 and tubular member 52. The ring 85 is secured to the flange58'by any suitable means, for example, studs or screws 66 engaging theears 6| may be used.

The exterior surface of the member 52 is tapered and provided with aplurality of circumferentially spaced lugs 66 which serve to receive acoupling ring for attaching the extension hose to the outer end of themember 62. The interior of the member 62 has an integral extension 68formed thereon to which is attached a member 10 having a substantiallyU-shaped flanged end, the ends of which serve to engage the belt andlift it free of the pulley is when the member 62 is pivoted about itssupport. The end 63 of the member62 is provided with a recess 12 inwhich there is disposed a plunger actuated by means of a spring 14. Thelower. end of the housing 56 is slotted, and formed with outwardlyextending ears 16 along each side of the slot. A key 1.1 is slideablyreceived between the ears 18 and is maintained therein by means of a pin18, extending between the ears 16, and a spring 19 mounted in a recess80 in the key-I1 bears against the pin 18 and'normally urges the keyinwardly. 'The plunger 13 carried in the member v62 is adapted to bearagainst the upper surface of the key 11 and as shown in Figure 12,'iseffective to lodge the hook end 82 of the key 11 behind the wall l2 ofthe nozzle of the cleaner when the coupling 55 is positioned in themachine and the housing 56 and member 62 thereof are in alignment.

In applying the converter coupling of Figure 9 to the suction cleaner,the member 62 is tilted upwardly in the manner illustrated in Figure 15.In this position; the outer end of the belt shifting member 10 ispositioned adjacent the lower wall of the housing 56. The key 51 uponbeing inserted into the opening 22 is man pulated in the same manner asthe key 29 on the housing 26 to bring the housing 56 and the elementscarried thereby into proper operative position within the nozzle l2.Whenthe inner end of the hous ng 55 is seated within the inlet openingof the fan case, the outer end of the member 62 is moved downwardly,bringing the spring pressed plunger 13 into engagement with the uppersurface of the key 1.1. This moves the hook 8 2 downwardly into theposition shown in Figure 12, locking the converter coupling within thenozzle of the suction cleaner." Simultaneously with ,the downwardmovement of the housing 62, the outer end of the. belt shifting member10 is moved upwardly, functioning to lift the belt clear of the pulleyshaft I 9, as best illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. As shown in Figure12," the converter couplingis in a position to adaptthe use of themachine with anextension hose and utility tools. To remove the couplingfrom the machine, it is only necessary to push upwardly on the key 11,thereby moving the spring pressed plunger 18 into the recess 12. The endof the housing 62 may be then tilted upwardly, moving the belt shiftingelement downwardly and replacing the belt 2. upon the pulley I9. Thespring 80 functions to clear the hook member 82, so that the housing 55may be withdrawn through the opening 2|.

It is to be understood that the particular forms 'of the inventionherein shown and described are presented for purposes of illustrationand 'explanation, and that various modifications of the apparatus may bemade within the scope of the appended claims without departing from thespirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. For a suction cleaner comprising a fan case having an air inletopening, a fan rotatably mounted in said fan case and having a shaft, asuction nozzle operatively connected with said inlet of said fan caseand havinga converter opening providing for access to said inletopening, a brush mounted in the floor engaging mouth of said nozzle, abelt connecting the fan shaft with said brush for driving same; aconverter coupling for attaching utility tools to said cleaner, saidconverter coupling including a tubular air conducting member adaptedthrough said converter opening to be arranged in air conductingrelationship with said fan inlet opening, and a belt shifting leverpivotally anchored in the wall of said member for pivotal movement aboutan axis extending transversely thereof, one end of said lever beingadapted to be moved transversely of the housing into engagement with thebelt and lift it free of the fan shaft.

2. For -a suction cleaner comprising a fan case having a centrallyarranged air inlet opening, a fan rotatably mounted in said fan case andhaving a shaft, a suction nozzle operatively connected with said inletopening. of said fan case and having a converter opening providing foraccess to said inlet opening, a brush mounted in the floor engagingmouth of said nozzle, a belt,

connecting the fan shaft with said brush for driving the same aconverter coupling for oper atively attaching utility tools to saidcleaner, said converter coupling including a tubular air con-v ductingmember adapted through said converter opening to be arranged in airconducting relationship with said fan inlet opening, an elongated beltshifting member pivotally anchored within said air conducting member ata point exteriorly of said nozzle and adapted to extend into said nozzleand engage the belt disposed therein, and means including a cam memberfor moving said belt shifting member about its pivot point in a planeextending longitudinally of the converter coupling to bring the free endthereof into position to lift the belt free of said fan shaft.

having a centrally arranged air inlet opening, a fan rotatably mountedin said fan case and having a shaft; a suction nozzle operativelyconnected with said inlet opening of said .fan case and having aconverter opening providing for access tosaid in the floor engagingmouth of said nozzle, a belt connecting the fan shaft with said brushfor driving the same; a converter coupling for operatively connectingutility tools to said cleaner. said converter coupling including atubular air 3. For a suction cleaner comprising a fan case inletopening, a brush mounted verter opening to be arranged in air conductingrelation withsaid fan inlet opening, a belt shift-' ing member pivotallyanchored in said air conducting member at a point exteriorly of saidnozzle for movement in a plane extending longitudinally of the convertercoupling, said belt shifting member adapted to be projected into thenozzle and positioned between the belt strands below the fan shaft,actuating means including a rotatable cam element serving to move thebelt shifting member about its pivot point to-lift the belt free of thefan shaft, and means responsive to said actuating means for locking theconverter coupling in the nozzle.

4. For asuction cleaner comprising a fan case having a centrallyarranged air inlet opening, a fan rdtatablymounted in said fan case andhaving a shaft, a suction noz'zle operatively connected with said inletof said fan case and having a converter openin providing for access tosaid inlet opening, a brush mounted in the floor engaging mouth of saidnozzle, a belt connecting thefan shaft with said brush for driving thesame; a converter coupling for attaching utility tools to said cleaner,said converter coupling including a tubular air conducting memberadapted through said converter opening to be arranged in air conductingrelationship with said fan inlet opening, an elongated belt shiftingmember 'fulcrummed within said air conducting member at a pointexteriorly of the nozzle, and a cam lever rotatably mounted in saidtubular air conducting member and engageable with said belt shiftinmember to shift the free end of said member into position to lift thebelt from said fan shaft.

5. For a suction cleaner comprising a fan case having a centrallyarranged air inlet'opening, a

\ fan rotatably mounted in said fan case and having a shaft,.' a suctionnozzle operatively connected with said inlet of said fan case and havinga converter opening providing for access to air conducting member, andcam means for pivsaid inlet opening, a brush mounted in the floorengaging mouth of said nozzle, a belt connect- .ing the fan shaft withsaid brush for driving the same; a converter coupling for attachingutility tools to said cleaner, said converter coupling including an airconducting member adapted through said converter opening to be arrangedin said fan inlet opening, a tubular extension producting member, saidtubular extension and air conducting member being arranged to providepivotal movement therebetween about a substantially horizontal axiswhereby when said tubular extension is pivoted the belt shifting meansis caused to move in a plane extending longitudinally of the convertercoupling to bring the free' end thereof into position to lift the beltfree of said fan shaft.

6. A removable converter coupling for a tion cleaner having a floorengaging nozzle with a belt driven brush mounted therein, said convertercoupling comprising a tubular air conducting member adapted to beconnected to said nozzle, a belt shifting lever fulcrumed within saidoting said lever about its fulcrumtransversely of theair conductingmember to bring the free end of said lever into position to lift thebelt free ofits driving shaft.

7. A removable converter coupling for a suction cleaner having a floorengaging nozzle with a belt driven brush mounted therein comprising atubular air conducting member adapted to traverse the nozzle and thepath of the belt there-- through, a tubular extension adapted to receiveone end of an extension hose and having an articulated connection withsaid airconducting member, a belt shifting member supported by saidtubular'extension and projecting into said tion cleaner, and means forlocking said air conducting member and tubular extension together and tosaid suction cleaner when said tubular extension and air conductingmembers are brought into aligned relationship.

'8. For a suction cleaner having a fan case provided with an air inletport, a suction nozzle operatively connected with said port, a fanrotatably mounted in said fan case and having a shaft extending throughsaid port into said 'nozzle, an agitator mounted in the mouth of saidnozzle, a belt connecting the fan shaft with said agitator for drivingthe same during operation of said fan; a removable converter couplingfor connecting suction cleaning tools with said fan air inlet port, saidconverter coupling comprising a hollow air conducting member adapted tohave one end thereof arranged in air conducting relationship with saidport, a belt shifting member pivotally anchored in said air conductingmember at a point exteriorly of said nozzle for, move- I in the nozzle.

W. PARDEE-

